Tuesday - our life now

Angus has been diagnosed with autism.

We are now working hard to help him learn and develop, and he's already started speech therapy. He's developing rapidly before our eyes which is totally amazing, and each day there is something new. At last, at two and a half, we are seeing progress. Here's my notes from our busy morning:

7.30 – 9.30am
• Angus initiated play chasey with his sister around the room
• Angus sat at the table with Tas to eat breakfast and stayed until he was finished eating
• He helped to put on shoes and socks, then walked down steps to get into the car
• He tried to escape but let me put him in the car and held a toy for the ride
• We got out with his monkey backpack on so I keep hold of him, to drop Tas at kindy care
• We stayed to play on the slide (he can do this himseklf now) and sandpit before going
• Returned home, he went straight for the backyard and waited for me to come and open the gate
• He tried to pick up my watering can full of water but I gave him his own little one which he tipped out
• Got very upset when it was time to go inside
• Recovered quickly with a drink while i did the nappy change (note: need to make visual cues). I hold the cup to my eyes and wait for eye contact before giving him the cup - works really well.

9.30 – 10.30
• Imaginative play - Practised putting the Mummy and the little boy into the purple car (he remembered to use the door from speech therapy only it was too small so he used the open roof)
• Fed the toddler doll and baby doll their bottles, gave them food, put them to sleep, practised ‘open and shut’ with the babies eyes
• Tried putting the big train and a truck around the ikea mat track but he hadn’t caught on

11.00am
• Reading (helping himself to book from the bookshelf using the chair as a ladder)

11.30 – 2.00
• Lunch - we sat together at the table for lunch. He puts whole quarters of bread in his mouth at once. Have to work on this.
swing - Angus said "Go" with me each time I gave him a big push on the swing
• Angus naptime (time for me to catch up on housework and phonecalls and marking for work)

This Thursday we have scheduled our very first date with our new babysitter. Last week I'd had to cancel because Ian was away for work. Here's hoping!